Media Server

[Symfony]

I'm not sure if this fits here really, but I was wondering if anyone has any experience with media servers and good software for them as well best practice. Thanks for any help!

 

-Sym

[dMx]

Mediaserver enable networking of several rooms! What are the advantages of networking through a Mediaserver? Let me give you a few examples.

 

Advantages of a Mediaserver

 

You can set up a Mediacenter PC or Mediaserver in your living room and then use it from other rooms, such as Your bedroom or your bathroom to the Mediacenter PC. But why would you want that? Well, maybe you have a hard disk recorder and knows the following problem:

 

You have a movie or a TV broadcast in the living room, but would like to look at them in the bedroom. If your hard disk recorder does not have a burner and you do not want to carry it from the living room to the bedroom, you can only watch the TV broadcast in the room where you recorded it, in our example: only in the living room!

You have an electronic collection of films that you want to use not only centrally, but also in their rooms.

Maybe you have also stored your music collection centrally and would like to play it in another room without changing the PC.

It could also be that you only have a satellite connection in the living room, but also like to enjoy SAT TV in the bedroom. This is possible, even without a new SAT cable to be installed and without SCART radio transmission set.

 The solution is called: Mediaserver + Mediaclient!

 

What is a Mediaserver / Mediaclient?

 

A mediaserver may e.g. An ordinary PC, a NAS or an HTPC, where you have stored your data centrally. A media software, e.g. Mediaportal, can make a server from your PC. The network share on Windows also ensures that you can use the shared folders on the network. The client can be a small mediabox, an Internet radio or a mini PC or also a HTPC with which you can retrieve the data from your Mediaserver from another room. The data are, e.g. Wireless streaming / transfer. A wired LAN connection between your Mediaserver and MediaClient is also possible. On your client, Mediaportal can be used as client software (client installation required).

 

The hardware required depends on various factors. If you only want to retrieve music files from your Mediaserver, then it is enough as Mediaclient, a Internetradio with a client function, e.g. The Logitech Squeezebox.

 

You can also watch videos and pictures, then you could join the Asus O! Play Media Player or the Western Digital TV Live HD Media Player as MediaClient.

 

If you want to transfer your data like videos, music and pictures also the TV signal of your Mediaservers, I advise you to a ZBOX as Mediaclient! The ZBOX is a mini-format PC. If you put on a drive no value, I can recommend you the ZBOX ID41, otherwise the ZBOX chooses ID33, this has a Blu-Ray drive. It is a Barebone PC. Turn the barebone into a full-fledged PC. Your requirement additionally a 2.5 inch hard drive and 2GB or 4GB DDR3-RAM. The installation is really simple and also by laymen!

 

You should also consider in advance how the connection between your Mediaserver and the Mediaclient should be established. Wireless (via WLAN) or wired (via LAN cable)?

 

As far as performance is concerned, the cable-bound solutions for a connection between a Mediaserver & Mediaclient are usually the better, because the data transfer rate via LAN cable is higher than with WLAN. However, the cable solution is also more complex and may require the installation of network cables. You also have the possibility to transfer the so-called Powerline Adapter, the LAN connection over the socket. I personally prefer WLAN, since I can do without LAN cable and Powerline adapter can do without.

 

Mediaserver - My Hardware Recommendations:

 

Mediaserver - e.g. A Mediacenter PC (brand self-build or a complete system)

Mediaserver - e.g. A NAS system

Mediaclient - For the transmission of all media. A mini PC like the Zotac ZBox

Mediaclient - For transferring music only. A Logitech Squeezebox

Router: e.g. fritzbox

 

Optional components:

 

A WLAN repeater (to improve your signal strength)

Powerful WLAN stick

More powerful antennas for your router

Powerline adapter (LAN / network via socket)

 

Software required:

 

Windows operating system e.g. Windows 7

Mediaportal (MediaPortal can be used as mediaserver or client software)

Logitech Mediaserver Software - Only required when using a Squeezebox!

 

 

GL  

Edited May 22, 2017 by dMx